James Hall looks for a teammate to pass the ball to during Division I soccer action at the Center.

Division I soccer: Mr. Bones teamwork clinches at least a tie

by Kevin Cassidy
Islander Correspondent

Mr. Bones defeated Longboat Observer 3-2 Friday, Nov. 4, to clinch at least a tie for first place while also remaining undefeated on the season. There was a definite contrast in styles between the two teams. Longboat Observer played a kick-and-run style of soccer where their defenders basically kicked the ball forward as far as they could in the hopes that athletic forwards Celia Ware and Blake Wilson could outrun the Mr. Bones defenders to the ball and score some goals.

Mr. Bones, however, relied on the teamwork of Sean Edwards, Cory Wash and Ally Titsworth, who worked a triangle to control the ball, consistently looking to pass to each other to work the ball up the field to generate their offense.

Defensively, Mr. Bones positioned Nicole Botero, James Hall, Raphael Kasser and Austin Martin deep to pick off the long balls from Longboat and depended on the strong play of goalie Jason Rappe to deny most of the scoring chances that Longboat generated.

Despite a definite advantage in possession time, the game still came down to the wire, producing some controversy due to a call by the referee that had Longboat Observer fans upset.

With Mr. Bones nursing a 3-2 lead late in the game, Celia Ware got loose up the right side when the referee stopped play due to an apparently injured player. The Mr. Bones player turned out to be OK, resulting in some second-guessing as to whether or not the referee should have blown the play dead. Hindsight, as they say is 20-20 vision, so it's easy to sit on the sidelines and criticize a referee's judgment call.

Players, coaches and referees all make mistakes and one can never tell when a round ball will produce a strange bounce. Parents and coaches need to remember that they're role models and the kids are playing a game. No matter what the end result, it is just that - a game! Sports, as they say, mirror life and the lesson here is that life will throw you all kinds of weird unexpected bounces. Complaining and accusing a referee of wrongdoing when decisions or bounces don't go your way will not help the situation. Neither will it change the split-second decision that the referee made.

Back to the game. The two teams battled it out for 15 scoreless minutes before Mr. Bones finally broke through a stout Observer defense led by goalie Christine Papazian and defenders Billy Alstrom, Jenna Duvall, Alison Lukitsch and Kyle Aritt. James Hall cleared the ball from the Bones' defensive end to Titsworth, who carried the ball forward before squaring the ball inside to a hard-charging Wash, who juked one defender before finishing far post for a 1-0 lead.

Late in the first half, Observer got back into the game when Blake Wilson found some space up the right side. Wilson was stopped, but somehow got the ball back and crossed inside to Forrest Schield, who one-timed it past Rappe in goal to tie the score at 1-1.

Mr. Bones retook the lead in the 43rd minute when Titsworth found space up the right side and beat Papazian to give Bones a 2-1 lead. Five minutes later, Titsworth found Wash in front of the Observer goal with a free kick that Wash finished for a 3-1 Mr. Bones lead.

With time winding down, Observer pulled to within one goal when Bones goalie accidently stepped outside the goalie box for a hand ball, giving the Observer a free kick that Ware buried to produce the 3-2 final score.

Division I (ages 12-14)

Ben Valdivieso scored 10 goals to take over the Center Division I scoring lead while also leading ReMax back to the .500 mark on the season with a 10-8 victory over West Coast Air Conditioning. Max Marnie scored four goals and Martine Miller added three goals for WCAC in the loss. Broderick West completed the scoring with one goal for West Coast.

Division II (ages 10-11 year olds)

Trevor Bystrom and Daniel Pimental each scored a pair of goals to lead Harry's Continental Kitchens 4-2 over West Coast Surf Shop on Nov. 4. Julian Botero and Giorgio Gomez each notched one goal to lead the Surf Shop in the loss.

Island Real Estate shut out Pine Avenue Store 6-0 on Nov. 2 behind three goals from Paulo Fonseca and two goals from division scoring-leader Chandler Hardy. Joseph Garbus added one goal for Island Real Estate in its ninth victory of the season.

The Center announced that soccer league awards will be handed out at in the Center gym Monday, Nov. 14. The players ages 5-7 in the Instructional Division will be recognized beginning at 6:30 p.m., and remainder of the divisions will receive awards starting at 7:30 p.m.

Anna Maria Oyster Bar golf tourney pulls in $74,000

The Anna Maria Oyster Bar Charity Golf Tournament was held Sept. 30 at the Meadows Country Club and drew over 200 golfers to the 36-hole venue. Many of the participants have been regulars at the tournament since its inception in 2000, which has benefited youth programs and scholarships for needy children at the Anna Maria Island Community Center.

First-place winner was Southern Wine & Spirits team of Herman Fernandez, Brad Reid, Mike Farone and Jerry Smith. Second place went to the Bank of Commerce team of Jim Burgess, Jerry Scott, Steve Sutter and Tom Wessel. Third place went to Jim Driggers, Chad Gates, Dan Smith and Jason Fleming. Most-honest award went to the Bradenton Herald team of Jill Lakner, Caryn Manning, Dennis Manning and Jim Smith.

Gloria Doudera shot a 30 to capture the Flight AA low-net women's golf competition on Nov. 1 at the Key Royale Club. Tootie Wagner was a shot back with a 31, followed by Cindy Miller's 32.

Flight A winner was Dorothy McKinna who shot a 31 to finish one shot in front of Roswitha Fowler and two shots ahead of Joyce Brown.

Flight B winner was Jane Wiengarten, who shot an even par 32 to finish ahead of Rose Slomba and Mary Pat Swamy, who both finished with 34.

Francis Smith-Williams' even-par 32 was two shots better then the 34 shot by Lorrain Collins, while Dot Dickinson, Sally Keys, Markie Ksiazek and Eunice Warda each finished with a 36 in Flight C.

Terry Westby shot a 32 to win the Flight D competition, which was four shots ahead of Cherie Kinerk and Lucille Cooney, who both shot 36.

Gaye Ganos needed only 11 putts in nine holes to capture the low-putt competition. She finished one ahead of Joyce Brown and three putts less then Sara Falk, Nancy Grimme, Cindy Miller, Marlyn Thorton and Jane Winegarten, who each used 14 putts to negotiate nine holes of golf.

Nell Bergstrom and Eunice Warda each had chip-ins, while Tootei Wagner won the birdie prize for her efforts on hole No. 8.

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